Child Safety Statement

CHILD SAFETY STATEMENT

Emerge Women and Children’s Support Network 

Emerge Women and Children’s Support Network (Emerge) has zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to ensuring the safety of children and takes deliberate steps to:

• protect children from physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and cultural abuse, and neglect; and
• create a culturally safe environment for all children.

Emerge endorses the Victorian Government’s eleven Child Safe Standards:

Standard 1: Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.

Standard 2: Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture

Standard 3: Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

Standard 4: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Standard 5:  Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.

Standard 6: People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

Standard 7: Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.

Standard 8: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

Standard 10: Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

Standard 11: Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.

This responsibility is understood and accepted by all Emerge employees, volunteers, contractors and Board members.